Journal box



Oct. 21, 1941.

G. F. COUCH 2,259,620

JOURNAL BOX Filed June 5. 1940 Patented Oct. 21, 194i rrso s'r'ras FATENT OFFICE JOURNAL BOX Glenn F. Couch,

Rochester, N. 'Y., assignor to The Symington-Gould Corporation, Rochester, N. Y.', a corporation of Maryland 7 Claims.

The invention pertains to a journal box for use in a railway truck.

An object of the invention is the provision of a deflector at or adjacent a rear extremity of a journal box so as to form a means whereby water, dirt or any such foreign substance is prevented from reaching the interior of the box.

Another object of the invention is to provide a deflector which is removably secured to a journal box and thus render it adaptable to existing journal boxes.

A further object of the invention is to provide a deflector at or adjacent a rear extremity of a journal box; the deflector being arranged and constructed so that it will extend beyond the associated journal box extremity and thereby direct foreign substance away from an apertured rear wall of the journal box.

These and numerous other objects will become apparent by referring to the succeeding detailed description of an exemplified form of the invention and the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure l is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken through a journal box and illustrating a form of the invention in front elevation.

Figure 2 is a partial horizontal sectional view and a partial plan view of the assembly of Figure 1, being taken along the lines 2-2 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is a vertical cross sectional view taken along the lines 3--3 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, wherein like reference characters indicate like parts, the numeral I designates generally a portion of a journal box for use in a railway vehicle truck. Since the invention relates to a rear portion of a journal box and associated structure, it is for all purposes deemed sufficient to illustrate merely the pertinent portion of the journal box; the undisclosed portion thereof being of conventional form. The journal box comprises the usual roof or top wall 2 spaced vertically from a floor or bottom wall 3, both of which are integrally joined by longitudinally spaced, vertically disposed side walls 4 to define an area 5 therebetween. The rear extremity of the journal box is substantially closed by transversely spaced rear walls 8 and 6 which define or form a dustguard well 1 therebetween. The rear wall ti is united integrally with the top, bottom and side walls of the journal box. Side and bottom webs 8 connect the spaced rear walls, leaving the upper extremity of the dustguard well open for the application of a dustguard 9 which may be of any desired or conventional form.

The rear walls and dustguard have aligned apertures Ill for the accommodation of an axle H which extends therethrough and has a journal l2 thereof housed within the confines of or partially occupying the area 5 of the journal box. There are slight unavoidable movements between the axle and journal box, and, as will be noted, the apertures of the rear walls are of greater dimension than the associated portion of the axle 50 as to eliminate any possibility of interference between the axle and journal box during service. The axle accommodating hole in the rear wall 5 is, during service subjected to an attack of particles of water, dirt andlike foreign substance, whilethe hole in the rear wall 6 is free to permit the journal lubricant contained within the journal box to pass therethrough. However, the dustguard housed within the well is in intimate contact with the axle and thereby forms aseal at the rear extremity of the journal box to guard against the ingress of foreign substance to the interior of the journal box or the egress of journal lubricant from the interior of the journal box. A suitable bearing (not shown) is interposed between the journal i2 and the journal box roof 2.

The axle has, adjacent the journal box, a wheel seat is to which a hub i i of a wheel E5 is secured and rotatably movable therewith. Outstanding from the wheel hub is a plate or web it inclined or tapered slightly toward the journal box and terminating adjacent its periphery in a flanged rim ll.

Means is associated with the rear extremity of the journal box so as to deflect water, dirt or like substance which is foreign to the interior of the journal box away from the wheel adjacent extremity of the journal box and thereby prevent it from reaching the hole in the rear wall 8 as well as dropping into the dustguard well through the upper extremity thereof. The hereinabove referred to means is exemplified in the accompanying drawing by a deflector plate or shield it formed by vertically spaced upper and lower flanges l9 and 26, respectively, joined by transversely spaced side flanges 2i to define an opening 22 therebetween for the accommodation.

or reception of the dustguard well forming portion of the journal box. The side and lower flanges are desirably spaced from the associated journal box webs 8 to accommodate a resilient packing 23 which may be of felt, rubber or like material to form a seal at the shield-box juncture and also prevent the shield from rattling.

Radiating from an extremity of the shield flanges is a concave circular dished web 24 opening toward and terminating short of the wheel plate I 6 to present an outer convex spherical surface25 adapted to ward off any particles coming into contact therewith. It will be noted that the inner portion of the web 24 is within the confines of the wheel rim, and for this reason the possibility of foreign substance reaching the area between the shield and wheel or within the deflector is materially diminished. Substantially triangular-shaped gussets 26 are formed integrally with the side and lower flanges and the web 24 to reinforce the shield. The deflector web terminates in a peripheral rim or flange 27, preferably perpendicularly disposed to the shield flanges to form an extension of the shield and a barrier against any foreign substance.

Gibs or arms 28 are provided on the shield and desirably upstand from the lower flange-web juncture into the clear opening 22 defined by the shield flanges 25 so as to overlap the lower extremity of the rear wall 6 or that portion thereof which depends below the journal box bottom wall. By the illustrated flange and gib interlock the shield is prevented from moving away from the journal box toward the wheel from its predetermined position. It will be noted,

by referring particularly to Figure 1 of the drawing, that the top flange IE5 is spaced a desired distance above the upper extremity of the end walls of the journal box with the associated portion of the shield web 24 depending or projecting below the top flange, as at 28, and terminating short of the horizontal plane of the upper limits of the rear walls.

As previously indicated, means is associated with the dustguard well to prevent any foreign substance which may find its way between the shield and wheel from depositing in the dustguard well through the upwardly facing opening thereof. This particular means is exemplified by a filler or cap 29 having a horizontal plate 30 overlying and of a horizontal extent equal to the limits of the dustguard well forming walls and webs so as to completely cover the dustguard well. The plate 30 is provided with a depending rib 3! which extends into the dustguard Well to be interposed between the walls 6 and 6 and side webs 8 to thereby prevent an unwarranted displacement or shifting of the filler from its illustrated position. Upstanding from the plate 36 are transversely spaced, longitudinally extending tapering flanges 32 which increase in height as they approach the center of the filler so as to transmit forces exerted on the central portion of the cap longitudinally thereof. A resil'ient packing 33 is interposed between the filler plate and the upper limits of the dustguard well defining flanges and webs to form an adequate seal at the upper opening of the dustguard well. It will be noted that the projecting portion'23 of the shield web is in overlapping relation to the filler flanges, and for this reason the upper extremity of the shield cannot move toward the wheel out of the predetermined illustrated position. The packing 33 is extended angularly to be interposed between the shield and filler to eliminate chattering or rattling of the shield.

The shield may be locked in a predetermined position by any suitable means, and as an illustration of one type which may be employed the shield web is provided with a relief, recess or indenture 34 which exposes the upper flange H! to the exterior of the shield, as at 35. Substantially centrally disposed of the flange portion 35 is an interiorly threaded aperture 36 disposed in alignment with an aperture 31 in the filler intermediate the ends thereof. A rotatable means, such as the cap screw 33, has an exteriorly threaded stem 39 occupying the aperture 36 and a shank forming extremity t0 loosely fitting into the filler aperture to terminate in an upset portion or head 4!, the latter of which retains the filler in assembled relation with the cap screw and avoids separation thereof during shipment from the source of manufacture to the place of destination or application. A head 52, positioned in the indenture, is provided on the upper extremity of the cap screw so that the latter may be conveniently manipulated. It may, at times, be found desirable and necessary to prevent an unwarranted rotation of the cap screw caused by vibratory forces being set up in the associated structure, and for this reason a removable cotter 43 extends through the shield and screw head G2.

The shield and its associated structure may be applied to a journal box before the latter is assembled in a railway truck by initially rotating the cap screw until the filler is brought to bear against the underside of the shield upper flange, at which time the upper extremity of the journal box is threaded through the opening 22 in the shield until the filler passes the flange 6 The shield is then lowered until the filler nears or bears against the journal box top wall 2, when the lower portion of the journal box is then moved through the shield opening until the lowermost portion of the rear wall b clears the gibs 23. The packing 23, as well as the packing may, at this stage, be associated with the shield flanges and filler, respectively. The shield is then raised until the lower flange 2D and its associated portion of the packing 23 bear against the lower portion of the journal box and the upper extremity of the shield is pivoted toward the wheel until the shield assumes a substantially vertical disposition. The cap screw is then rotated so as to urge the filler downwardly against the dustguard well defining flanges and webs, and the cotter G3 is applied to complete the assembly.

It will be noted that there is very little space between the shield rim and the wheel web through which any foreign substance may reach the area between the shield and wheel. In ad dition to this extremely limited or restricted pas-- sageway, it is to be noted that in a moving vehicle the surface or skin friction between the air and the journal box-adjacent surface of the wheel will create a turbulence in the air at or adjacent the shield to form an additional carrier through which foreign substance may not pass to the interior of the shield.

It will be further noted that various changes and alterations may be made to the illustrated and described construction without departing from within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a device of the character described including a journal box having a dustguard well adjacent the rear extremity thereof, the combination of a filler bearing upon the journal box and closing the upper extremity of said dustguard well, a deflector removably secured to said journal box and having inner side and bottom flanges bearing against said journal box in the proximity of said dustguard well, a circular concave web opening away from said journal box and formed integrally with said flanges, and means rotatably associated with said deflector and reacting against said filler for retaining said deflector in a predetermined position.

2. In a device of the character described including a journal box having a dustguard well adjacent a rear extremity thereof, the combination of a filler bearing upon said rear extremity and closing the upper extremity of said dustguard well, a deflector removably secured to said journal box rear extremity and having top, bottom and side flanges defining an aperture for the reception of said journal box rear extremity, a circular cup-shaped web opening away from said journal box and connected to said flanges,

a rim extending from said web, and means rotatably associated with said top flange and reacting against said filler.

3. In a device of the character described including a journal box having a dustguard well adjacent a rear extremity thereof, the combination of a filler closing an upper extremity of said dustguard well, a deflector removably secured to said journal box and having top, bottom and side flanges defining an aperture for the accommodation of said journal box rear extremity, a cir- 7 cular cup-shaped web opening away from said journal box and formed integrally with said flanges, a rim extending from said web and perpendicularly disposed to said flanges, a gib adjacent said lower flange and extending toward said aperture to be positioned in overlapping relation with said journal box rear extremity, and means rotatably associated with said top flange and reacting against said filler.

4. In a device of the character described including a journal box having a dustguard well adjacent a rear extremity thereof, the combination of a filler mounted upon the journal box and closing the upper extremity of said dustguard well, a deflector removably secured to said journal box and having connected top, bottom and side flanges defining an opening therebetween for the accommodation of said journal box, packing means interposed between side and bottom flanges and said journal box, a circular web radiating from said flanges and terminating in a rim, and screw means extending through said top flange and reacting against said filler.

5. In a device of the character described including a journal box having a dustguard well adjacent a rear extremity thereof, the combination of a deflector removably associated with said journal box and having connected top, bottom and side flanges defining an opening for the accommodation "of said journal box,packing means interposed between said side and bottom flanges and said journal box, a concave circular web extending from said flanges and opening away from said journal box, a rim extending from said Web and being perpendicularly disposed to said flanges, a recess in said web adjacent said top flange, and a rotatable means in said recess extending through said top flange to react against said journal box.

6. In a device of the character described including a journal box having a dustguard well adjacent a rear extremity thereof, a deflector removably secured to said journal box and having connected top, bottom and side flanges defining an opening for the accommodation of said journal box, a concave circular web extending from said flanges and opening away from said journal box, a rim extending from said web, gussets extending between some of said flanges and web, gibs formed on said deflector and overlapping a portion of said journal box, and movable means associated with one of said flanges and reacting against said journal box for maintaining said deflector in a predetermined position.

7. In a device of the character described including a journal box having a dustguard well adjacent a rear extremity thereof, the combination of a deflector removably secured to said journal box and having connected top, bottom and side flanges defining an opening for the accommodation of said journal box, a concave circular'web extending from said flanges and opening away from said journal box, a rim forming a continuation of said web, and spaced means associated with said deflector reacting against said journal box for maintaining said deflector in a predetermined position.

GLENN F. COUCH. 

